By Alex Karavas
Standout performances from five of the Western Region Football League’s top senior players has helped Vic Metro set up a convincing 84-point win over Queensland.
Travelling to Brisbane’s Moreton Bay Sports Complex over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, it was always going to be a tough task for Queensland, who seemed a class below of what their Victorian opponent had on offer.
Deer Park’s Kwame McHarg kicked off proceedings with the first goal of the game, and from then on it was all Metro as they ran out comfortable winners 17.22 (124) to 6.4 (40).
Hoppers Crossings’ Wayde Skipper was brilliant in the ruck, constantly winning hit outs to advantage to the likes of Fortunato Caruso (Northern Saints), as well as getting run from the backline from players such as Joel Perry (Vermont) and Daniel Campisano (Greenvale).
Whenever the ball did venture in Metro’s defensive half, the Big V just swooped in their droves and used the ball with efficiency and class.
Nick Riddle (Greensborough) just marshalled the play in their defensive half, while the pressure put on from the Metro players was instrumental in turning defence into attack so frequently.
Skipper received help from Matthew Dennis (Bundoora) in the ruck, and would venture forward from time to time to be that extra tall target when need be, booting one goal in the process.
The Eastern Football League’s Leigh Williams (Norwood) put on a display that would have had many admirers, kicking seven majors, six of which came in the first half.
Whenever the ball was in the forward fifty, Williams, McHarg, along with Werribee Districts’ Andrew Panayi were lethal, their Queensland opponents simply unable to keep up with the leg speed of the Vics. Add Ziggy Alwan (Noble Park) in the mix and you can see why the score line ended the way it did.
Entering the last term 87-points down, things could have been a lot worse for Queensland, had Metro kicked straight. The visitors started the quarter with nine behinds in a row, four of which hit the post before they broke the run to finish the term kicking 2.11.
St.Albans captain Tim Jenkins was at his best, chiming in with two majors, while Deer Park’s Jack Purton-Smith was dangerous across the middle.
To their credit, Queensland didn’t throw in the towel with Morningside duo Adam Spackman and Ryley Buntain standing up after being under constant fire from a dominant Metro forward line.
Metro coach Brian Royal was been pleased with how well his players had gelled together in such a short amount of time and how seamlessly they managed to run and carry the footy, and score so frequently.
FINAL SCORES:
QUEENSLAND v. VIC METRO
Vic Metro 6.4, 11.9, 15.11, 17.22 (124)
Queensland 2.0, 4.0, 5.2, 6.4 (40)
GOALS: L. Williams 7, K. McHarg 3, T. Jenkins 2, A. Panayi 1, T. Small 1, W. Skipper 1, R. Jordon 1, S. Allan 1
BEST: Vic Metro : L. Williams, F. Caruso, A. Arrowsmith, R. Jordon, M. Aver, T. Small
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Last Modified on 11/06/2015 15:47